It was the next day before I recovered sufficiently to relate the story of my journey. By then, I had learned what more I could of Queen Almidahl and Qin Non-won. Before lunch, I held a meeting with my chancellor and my ladies, sitting around the fireplace.
“I apologize, my ladies,” I ended. “The fact that you are considerably more than food to this Dragon means that by keeping you alive I was bringing down some bad fortune on your villages.”
The women consulted quietly together, then Adrijana declared, “We still support you, Your Excellency. We not only believe that you had the best of intentions, but we still have faith that you can find a good solution to this problem.”
“You say that the Dragon wants you to join forces with her?” asked Ana.
“That is what she said, but what to make of it, I’m not sure. It could be a ploy—she is clever and devious enough!—or simple pragmatism. As I said, she knows mankind is changing the valley. Perhaps she really just wants a powerful ally to slow the change.”
I watched Ana think for a moment before she said, “Since you have asked our advice, I will presume to give it: Don’t take her offer, my lord!”
“I’m sorry; I should have said that I never intended to take it! But this is interesting, coming from a lady who has been ready to throw herself into the beast’s jaws.”
“I have learned from your story that the Dragon is evil, so I do not wish her to survive and spread her evil further. Yet I still feel I must honor my family’s wishes if I can.” Ana looked me straight in the eye. “So please, find a way to defeat this vile beast and save us all. I will help you to do that, if I can.”
“What of this Qin Non-won?” asked Marija.
“What I have learned is very curious! Qin Non-won is a Gold Dragon, not a Red. He seems to be very reclusive—I find no being who claims to have met him for years and years. He is reputed to possess great wisdom and great male potency.
“The stories claim that if she can ever mate with him she will lay a hundred eggs. And their progeny, inheriting her power and his wisdom, will form a clan that will rule all the planes.”
“Now that’s ambition for you!” my chancellor said cynically.
“Perhaps justified, Niko. You may have heard about some of Queen Almidahl’s progeny by other sires: Alazari … Balustead … Cannoir-Reminon …”
His face whitened. “Enough! I do know those names, and I don’t wish to hear more. Yes, she is potent!”
“Two you probably don’t know about are the twin guardians to the Ifrit city, Qudamah and Qutaibah. As Zaneem suggested, she does have reason to fear that her children will be made pets.”
No one spoke as the four digested what they had heard.
“What can we do?” Marija finally asked.
“If she does mean to force the issue at the next full moon, then a crisis is at hand. This is good and bad. It is good that we may be able to lure her out of her lair onto favorable ground. It is bad that if we then fail to defeat her, she may follow through with her threat.
“I have a plan in mind. It is a desperate one that requires you three ladies to do what your villages originally intended for you to do.”
They all looked at me quizzically.
“You must offer yourselves again to the Dragon. You must be bait. I will rescue you if I can, but if I fail you will end up just where you would have been had I not intervened … what? Just ten days ago? How time flies!
“And how much my attitude towards you ladies has changed. I deeply desire to enjoy your company for a long, long time. So I don’t make this request idly. But I see it as the best way through this crisis.”
Ana said, “You mean you will tie the three of us to stakes in front of the Dragon’s lair?”
“Yes. I mean I will tie the three of you to stakes in front of the Dragon’s lair,” I said, and looked steadily at them.
Adrijana snorted and chuckled. “I wouldn’t go willingly last time. Why should I go this time?”
“Because last time you thought the Dragon’s aid was a fraud. Now you know, if you believe me, that her threat to your village is real. And,” I said, stroking her arm gently, “you’ve had some new experiences since then, experiences I hope you would like to have continue.”
She leaned over and kissed me on the lips. There was animal electricity in that kiss. “Point made,” she said.
Marija waved her hand from behind Adrijana. “This is a bit much for me. First I’m a sacrifice, then I’m freed, now you want me to be a sacrifice again?”
“Free only to live, my dear. You were never free to do what you wished. If the Dragon is gone, you will be much freer, indeed.”
“If the Dragon is gone …” She fell silent, pondering.
“Excuse me, Baron. But by ‘Dragon gone’ do you mean ‘Dragon dead’?” asked Niko.
I paused for a moment. “I’m afraid I do, Niko. I can see no pressure I can apply to get her to simply leave. There’s an affair of the heart, of hearts, at stake here—hers and mine. And she seems to believe that her cave here is essential to her affair.
“My ladies, my plan to save you depends on weapons that I hope to keep secret. I will tell you more when they arrive. Sadly, I must now tell you that the plan is not surefire—there are uncertainties. The Queen is tough, clever, and has survived hundreds of attempts to kill her or subdue her. But I pledge to you that I will try.”
Adrijana spoke for them again. “We understand that you face a great challenge, our Baron, and we support you in any way we can—don’t we?” The other two nodded. Adrijana stood and curtsied. “Ladies, I believe we have a lunch to prepare. Chancellor Jelacic, Baron, please excuse us.” The others followed her lead and left the main room for the kitchen.